I've been working on pieces for our Crafty Book Club.  Monday night I roamed around Hobby Lobby, then Goodwill, JoAnn Fabrics and the dollar rack at Target looking for supplies.  I was on a mission.  Big time.  I saw so many cool new craft supplies…if only I could buy time in the day.  I feel the same way when I browse through the book store.  So many good books!

These Floracraft Styrofoam hearts caught my eye at Joann Fabrics.  Does anyone out there still decorate for St. Valentine's Day?  What do you do? 

Hobby Lobby had 30% off some of their fabric so me and the fabric lady picked out four prints.  And can I just say how much I love nice fabric ladies?  Happy to cut 1/4 yard pieces from four different bolts!  I zipped them into 1/2 inch-ish strips with my rotary cutter and mat and away I went tying and cutting all……the……way…..around the heart.  Whew.  Ok, I was drinking Sleepy Time tea which I'm positive slowed down my pace….and…..I did watch two documentaries on Netflix while knotting.  I Like Killing Flies and then Pressure Cooker.  Both excellent and inspiring even if you have no dreams of going into the restaurant biz.

Here you have it!  A shaggy, raggedy, heart wreath!  I have a few little tweets, I mean tweaks yet to do today.  You'll see!

It was a hectic weekend to say the least.  I stayed up late, caught up with friends and worked on a couple projects.  The first is an old door I'm converting into a shelf.  I've got it painted and now it's ready to hang.  I'll show you pictures once that's done because it was virtually made from nothing.  I like rolling like that.  The earring picture is something from the Candie-chives….let's call them, "Dreaming of Spring."  I say that because my toes are freezing and I'm wearing a scarf as I write to you.  But, we will make it through winter because we always do!  A couple dear friends came to visit this morning and so I whipped up some French Toast (and by the way, any time I say "french toast" it makes me think of the line in 40 Year Old Virgin-"I'm starving. Let's get some Freeeench toast!")  The recipe worked out perfectly if you want to give it a go.  I put a splash of blueberries with it.  Oh yeah.  Good stuff!  The latter part of the day I started going through my fabric stash to start a new quilt for me.  I find consistently I'm attracted to scrappy quilts so I've chosen the no pressure "Country Fair" pattern.  I've also heard it called a "snowball".  Seems appropriate.  You can see a picture and get your own pattern on this website.  I'm off to read for a bit—Catcher in the Rye.  Have you read it?

**For you locals, you can get quilt patterns at Nancy Js or Creative Stitch in North Manchester.  Wink.

Oh my gosh…  I picked up some ZUM Frankincense and Myrrh oil the other day from a friend's shop and it is the best!  I put some on my work bench and in the bathroom and now the whole cabin has that nice, spicy, earthy, awesome smell.  Having it on my workbench also seems to relieve a little tension….kind of like playing mellow music while you work.  It smells so good you kinda want to smather it on your temples and arms and toes. I've compromised by putting a drop in my unscented hand cream and that worked nicely.  Essential oils.  Truly essential.  Check out the Indigo Wild shop here.  I think you are going to love it!

P.S.  They were right about the reed sticks…put them where air circulates (not on a bookshelf or something like that). 

*For all you beautiful Wabash people, you can get it at the Body Connection!  Holler.

This weekend was pretty chill for the most part.  I went to a party with friends Friday night and celebrated my mom's 57th birthday Saturday night.  Somewhere in the middle I filmed a little video for Plaid (more on that later).  And yesterday I went to a sweet little baby shower.  Now that I recall all that, I guess it was pretty busy.  But, it felt pretty laid back!  How does that happen?  Rocky and I hiked both days and both days we were extremely grateful for the sun shining on the glittery snow.  It was 8 degrees, so I packed a thermos of coffee to keep my core warm, but everything was so bright and overwhelmingly beautiful I didn't notice being cold.  Mind over matter?  I think.

The pictures were taken with the Hipstamatic iPhone app.  Check out the Flickr group here. I'm in love with all the combinations.  Will I even haul my big camera around anymore?  

If you are a foodie, I think you may love this blog as much as I do.  I just stumbled on it and it's full of sweet ideas!  Sweet!

https://www.candiecooper.com/2011/01/10/this-weekend-was-pretty-chill-for-the-most-part-i-went-to-a-party-with-friends-friday-night-and-celebrated-my-moms-57th-bi/

And here it is!  Elephant Ear Cheesecake!  I made it for the party last night and it hit the spot!  It went together in a snap and filled the cabin with a toasty, cinnamon, cozy smell.  You know the one.  If you can swing it, try to eat it while it's still warm.  Oh. Mama.  It's a keeper!

And that pretty much says it all….except for there is a new dessert I want to make for a gathering this Friday.  Elephant Ear Cheesecake.  Have you made it?